Form for culverts.



M. J. A. FLOM.

FORM FOR GULVERTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1911 1,035,336. Patented Aug-13, 1912.

3 SIIBETS-SIIEBT I.

WITNESSES W ATTORNEY M. J. A. PLUM.

FORM FOR CULVERTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.26, 1911.

1,035,336. Patented Aug. 13,1912.

3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

WITNESSES J r I 0 m 251406 W M BY ATTORNEY M. J. A. PLOM.

FORM FOR GULVERTS.

APPLICATION PILED JANJZG, 1911 1,035,336, Patented Aug. 13,1912.

3 SHEETS 'SHEET 3.

WITNESSES 4" BY 9 /1UZ' ATTORNEY MARTIN J. A. FLOM, '01" MADISON,WISCONSIN.

FORM FOR cULvEB/rs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed January 26, 1911. Serial No. 604,825.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN J. A. From, a citizen of the United States,residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented a new and useful Form for Culverts, of which the following iS aspecification.

This invention has reference to improvements in forms for culverts orother like structures, especially structures made of concrete, and isdesigned to provide a self sustaining and locking culvert form which maybe readily collapsed when it is desired to remove the form after theapplication and setting ofthe concrete.

In accordance with the present invention I there is provided a series ofsupports, each preferably as long as the length of the culvert sectionto be built, or where the cluverts are not of excessive length, thelength of a form member may equal that of the culvert. These culvertsare constructed so as to interlock with any desired degree of curvatureby the provision of adjusting means, whereby one culvert section willmove in telescoping relation to the next adjacent culvert section to besecured thereto in the roper position of adjustment, while one of theculvert sections, which may be in the nature of a key section, isprovided with a latch mechanism capable of positively locking in asustaining position with relation to the other sections, so that theentire form will maintain its position, but when it is desired tocollapse the completed form the key section will respond readily to acomparatively slight force properly applied by an operator, whereby theentire form will reduce in diameter sufficientto permit itsdismcmberment and the removal from the said structure.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with theunderstanding, however, that the showing of the drawings whileillustrating a practical form of the invention does not attempt to showthe only practical embodiment of the invention, for the latter issusceptible of various changes and modifications without materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure l is an end elevation of a completed form ofsubstantially arch shape showing a cement structure supported'thereby.Fig. 2 is a central vertical lon 'tudinal section ofthe structure shownin ig. 1. Fig. 3 is aview, partly in section, of the key member of theform in the extended or-operative ,position. Fig. 4 is a similar view ofthe structure of Fig. 3 in the collapsed position. .lFig. 5 is a view ofone of the other form sections which are all generally alike. Fig. 6 isasection on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is .a section on the line 77of Fi 5. F' 8 is an end view of the right Eand on of Fig. 5 as seen inthe drawings, some parts being shown in section. Fig. 9 is a view of theleft hand end of the structure of Fig- 5 but observed from the oppositeside from that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one ofthe formsections with the active face downward. Fig. 11 is a sectionthrough a concrete casting as defined by two opposed form sections orgroups of sections held in spacedrelationby ties. Fig. 12 is aperspective view of one of the latches employed for holding a tie. .Fig.12 is a perspective view of aformer for the ties.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a culvert made up of separatesections, which, aside from the key. section to be referred to, are ormay be substantially alike. These sections: each comprise a p lengthequal to the length of the culvert or culvert section to-be built, andeach of a width depending upon the form of the culvert, but usuallythe-width of the form section is such that it will include but a smallchord with relation to the curvature of the arch, so that the finishedarch will be generally curved, although actually made up of a number ofconnected plane surfaces of a length equal to the length of the culvert,but of comparatively small width. At each end of each plate'l there issecured a bracket 2 by riveting or otherwise, and this bracket is formedat each end with ears 3, 4, respectively, and, moreover, has securedthereto a plate 5 constituting an end plate for the corresponding end ofthe form section. The plate 5 is formed with ears 3, 4 matching the ears3, 4 of the bracket 2,'but the ears 4. and 4" are spaced apart asindicated in Fig. 8, and at a point about in the plane of the plate 1these ears are traversed by a pin 6. The ears 4 and 4 may besubstantially circular, while the ears 3 are formed with matchingnotches 7,s0 that the ears 3 of a form section may be introduced betweenthe ears 4 and 4 of the next adjacent section-to interlock therewith andto turn latelofa IIO ' i and the companion ears 3*, 4.

- traversin The edge of each plate 5 remote from the plate 1 is formedwith reversely curved portions 8, 9, respectively, the curvatureapproaching the plate 1 toward the center of the plate 5 where thecurves intersect, while the curved edge of the portion 9 is formed witha return flange 10, which,

when the sections are assembled, forms a guide for the free edges of thecurved pertion 8, and this latter portion 8 is formed neanits outercorner with a perforation 11,

while the portion 9 is formed with a. curved series of perforations 12parallel with the flange 10 and in position to have any one of thembrought into coincidence with the perforation 10. The curvature of theportion 8 of the plate 5 is described about the bottom ofthe'recess 7 asa center, while the curved edge of the portion 9 and, also, thecurvature of the series of perforations 12 is described about the pin 6as a center. This provides for bringing the main plate 1 of two adjacentform sections into any degree of angular relation or into the sameplane, .as may be desired, within the range of adjustment providedm Thesections are usually secured together by a pin or bolt passing throughthe perforation ll of one section and some one of the perforations 12 ofthe adjacent section, the ears 3 and 3 of one section then engagingbetween the ears 4 and 4 of the companion section, the pin 6 traversingthe ears 4 and 4 serving to lock the ears 3 and 3* thereto inconjunction with the return flange 10 and the bolt the perforations 11and 12 then mcoinci ence. 1

For purposes of stifi'ening the culvert section, the end members 5 andthe plate 1 may have secured thereto angle strips 13 extending theentire length of the section between the end plates 5, the parts beingriveted together or otherwise secured wherever necessary in thepractical embodiment of the invention, rivets being the usual mode ofconnection, without, however, precluding other connecting means for thesame purpose.

There is provided a key section 14 having a longitudinal form plate 1 asin the other form sections, but in other respects this key section isdifferently constructed from the other sections. At each end thekeysection has an end plate 15riveted or otherwise secured thereto,- theend plate being provided with a flange 16 adjacent the late 1 f01-- thepurpose. The other edge 0 this plate, that is, the edge remote from theplate 1, has one end curved and provided with a return flange 1'7 andspaced therefrom a curved series of perforations 18 both de* scribedabout a pin 19 as a center, this pin being carried by an ear 20 formedon the plate. 15 adjacent the plate 1' which is cut away to receive thisear, while another ear 21 is formed on a bracket 22 made fast to theplate 15 by riveting or otherwise. The end plate 15 is elongated in adirection away from the end containing the perforations 18, and iscontinued to a' point short of the other edge of the main plate 1, andnear this edge of the plate 15 there is a perforation 23 adjacent theflange 16 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The plate 15-at the end remote from the perforation 18 carries a latchplate 24 by means of a link 25 connected at one end to the plate 1.5 bya pivot 26 andat the other end connected to the plate 24 by a pivot 27.The plate 24 is provided with spaced ears 28, 29 like the ears 20, 21,and capable of entering a recess 30 in the end of the main plate 1, sothat in one position ofthe plate 24 the cars 28 and 29 bear the samerelation to the plate 1 as do the ears 20 and 2 1, but at the oppositeside thereof. Traversing the ears 28 and 29 is a pin 31 similar to thepin 19 and for a like purpose. Remote from the pin 31 the edge of theplate24 is formed with a curved return flange .32 and adjacent theretowith a curved series of perforatio-ns 33, both described about the pin31 as a center and corresponding to the similar flange 17 andperforations 18 of the end plate 15.

' Pivoted to the plate 15 is a hand lever 34, which, at an appropriatedistance from the pivot connection, has secured thereto a latch strip orbar 35 carrying at its free end a. pin 36 in position to extend throughthe latch plate 24 and when coincident therevwith into or through theperforation 23.

The free end of, the bar 35 is ur ed toward the plate 24 by a finger 37of su cient elasticity' for the purpose, so that the pin end of the bar354s always urged toward the plate 15 and will snap into the perforation23 when it reaches the same. The end of the barv35 remote from the pin36 is connected to the lever 34 by a pivot pinl38, and Where the pin 38traverses the lever 34 there is provided an elongated slot39, so thatthe lever may have an extent of free movement without causing movementof the bar 35 in the direction of its length. That end of the bar 35traversedby the pivot 38 is bent awa from the lever 34 on opposite sidesof t e pin 38 or otherwise formed to provide shoulders 40, 41,respectively, and the lever 34 at "opposite ends of the slot ,39. isformed with matching shoulders 42, 43, respectively, so that as thelever 34 is moved about its pivot in one direction, say to the left asviewed in Fig. 3, the shoulder 42 is brought into engagementwith theshoulder 40 and the bar 35 1s rocked on the pivot 31,

the connection being loose enough for the purpose, so that the pin 36is'withdrawn from the perforation 23 in which it is seated in theposition of the parts shown in Fig. 3, this movement being against theaction of the spring keeper 37 and the plate 24' is, therefore,unlatched from the plate 15 and continued movement of the lever 34toward theleft will cause a movement of the plate 24 about the pivot 26of the lever 25 in the direction to move the plate 24 away from theplate 1, the ears 28 and 29 and the in 31 participatin in this movement.'Fhe final position 0 the parts under the movement just described isshown in Fig. 4. On moving the lever 34 inthe other direction, or towardthe right. of Fig. 4, the shoulder 43 is brought into engagement withthe shoulder 41 and the bar 35 is put under a tendency, augmented by thespring 37, to cause the pin 36 to enter the perforation 23 and at thesame time the plate 24 is moved toward the position shown in Fig. 3, andwhen it finally reaches such position the pin 36 under the tendencyimparted to the bar 35 will snap into the perforation 23, thus lockingthe plate 24 in the position shown in Fig. 3. To insure the properposition of the plate 24, it is formed at the edge adjacent the flange16 with a tooth 44 designed to enter a notch 45 in the flange 16, thetooth being an angular tooth so that it is readily centered in its seat.

The plate 1 of the key section 14 is provided with end plates 15 at eachend and the latch mechanism described is provided at eachend of the keysection. In order that these latch mechanisms may work together whenoperated from either end, the lever 34 has its pivot support in the formof a rod 46 extending the entire length of the key section between theend plates 15 and made fast at the ends to the levers, whereby theoperation of one lever will cause like movement of the other lever.

In using the improved form, a suitable number of sections are coupledtogether by inserting the notched ears 3, 3 between the connected ears4-4 of the next adjacent section, and in order to facilitate theassembla e, the sections may be made right and le so that they areassembled in two groups, each defining one-half of the culvert less thecorresponding portion of the key section, and the shape of the culvertis determined by the extent of insertion of a portion 8 of a formsection into the portion 9 of 'the next form section and the relation ofthe perforation 11 with the desired one of the perforations .12. Theentire form may be carried at the two sides by footing strips 47. Theterminal sections of the connected sides of the form are connected oneto the plate 15 of the key section and the other to the plate 24 withthe notched ears 3 and 3 of the respective terminal sections of the twohalves engaging the pins 19 and 31. The form is finally locked in theextended position by a movement of the lever 34 to the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3 and then the concrete'may be applied in the usual manner.When the concrete structure has set, then the form is readily removed byactuating one or the other of the levers 34, the lever not actuateddirectly participating in the movement of the actuated lever and theplates 24 are unlatched and moved to the relative position shown in Fig.4. This will cause a sutficient collapse of the form to move it awayfrom the walls of the finished structure and it may then be drawn as awhole to a new position, if such be desired, and again extended to thelocked position ready for the application of more concrete. In thismanner long culverts may be constructed with comparatively short formsand without the necessity of dismantling a form when being removed fromthe finished portion of the structure to a new position. When it isdesirable to finally dismantle the form this is readily accomplished byremoving the securing bolts bet-ween adjacent forms, and they may thenbe'disconnected one from the other for transportation or storage.

It is sometimes desirable to provide culverts with wings, and for thispurpose the form sections, such as shown in Fig. 5, or any chosen numberof these form sections, are provided with elongated slots 48 indicatedin Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and these slots are appropriately spaced apartin the direction of the length of the plate 1 of such form section.Pivoted to the plate 1 on the face thereof remote from that againstwhich the concrete is to be cast, and adjacent a corresponding slot 48is a latch 49 in the form of a bar connected at one end to the plate bya pivot pin or rivet .50, and adjacent the other end formed with a thumbpiece 51, whereby the latch may be manipulated, and at an intermediatepoint this bar has formed on 'oneside a finger 52, which, when the latchis moved to the proper position, is in traversing relation to the slot48, preferably about midway of the length of the latter. In the path ofthe end of the latch remote from the pivot 50 is a keeper 53 of anyappropriate form, and this keeper may be sufiiciently elastic to engage,over the end of the latch and maintain it in position when the finger 52is in traversing relation to the corresponding slot 48. -When the formsections are utilized for the construction of wing walls for culverts orother walls there'are provided wire loops 54 of sufficient length. Theseloops are flat loops and the ends are passed through the slots 48 of twoopposed form sections and the corresponding latches 49 are moved so thattheir fingers 52 are passed through the loops, thus holding the loops tothe form sections. The length of the loops determines the spacing of theactive faces of opposed form sections or groups of form sections, whilethe fingers 52 coacting with the loops prevent further separation of theform sections when the concrete filling is introduced, such concretefilling being indicated at 55 in Fig. 11, where it will be seen that'the filling 55 is of a thickness determined by the length of the loops54;.

To provide a convenient means, usable at the place where .the wall isbeing built, for the production of theloops 54, there is furnished aboard or plate 56 of wood or metal with a longitudinal series ofperforations or sockets 57, into any one of which there may beintroduced a pin 58, two of such pins being usually employed. The pins58 are introduced into suitably separated sockets or perforations 57and' an appropriate length of wire is passed around these pins to form,a fiat loop and the ends 'are twisted together as indicated at -59 tounite the wire strand into a loop of a length determined by the spacingof the pins 58. By thismea-ns the wire loops may be made on the spotwith the assurance that they will all be of the same length if the wallis to be of even thickness throughout, or of such lengths as may bedesired for the type of wall to be built, and; therefore, dependenceupon a supply of ties already made is not necessary, and thetransportation of such supply of ties is avoided. When the wall has setit is simply necessary to move the latches 49 out of engaging relationto the loops or ties 54 when the form sections may be readily removedfrom the wall, and if the projecting ends of the loops are objectionablethese may be readily cut off.

What is claimed is 1. A mold structure comprising a series of individualsections provided with interlocking means in the planes of the activefaces of the sections, and other interlocking means coacting with thefirst named locking means to hold the sections in relatively adjustedpositions, and a-key section provided with interlocking means matchingthe interlocking means of adjacent sections, said key section havingmeans for the collapse of the entire structure without disconnection ofthe parts of such structure.

2. A mold structure comprising a plurality of interlocking sections andan inter mediate key section, said key section having a latch membermovable at will to expand or contract the form as a whole and havingmeans for locking the form when in the ex panded position againstcollapse.

3. In a mold structure, form sections each comprising a member adaptedto receive and maintain the material to be molded, and end other side ofthe plates on the side of the material retainingmember remote from the,sustaining face thereof, said end plates having reversely curved edges,one shaped to receive the edge of a corresponding member and the othercurved edge being shaped to fit the receiving edge of the correspondingmember, said end plates being'provided at the opposite edges of theretaining member with locking means coacting with the curved edges tolock adjacent sections in adjusted positions.

'having ears, those ears. at one side of the first named plate beingnotched, and at the other side being spaced and traversed by a pin.

5. In a mold form, a mold section comprising a plate of appropriatelength designed to retain material and at the ends on the face remotefrom the retaining face provided with end plates each having its outeredge reversely curved with one of the curved portions formed with areturn flange and a series of perforations, and the other curved portionhaving a perforation de; signed to match the series of perforations ofan adjacent end plate, the said end plates being each provided at theedges and in the plane of the retaining plate with ears notched at oneside of the first named plate and provided with a traversing pin at theI first named plate, respectively. a

6. In a'mold form, a mold section comprising a plate of appropriatelength de-' signed to retainiiihterial and at the ends on the faceremote from the retaining face provided with end plates each having itsouter edge reversely curved with one of the curved portions formed witha return flange and a series of perforations, and the other curvedportion having a {perforation designed to match the series 0perforations of an adjacent end'plate-, the ,said end plates being eachprovided-at the edges and in the plane of the retaining plate with earsnotched at one side of the first named plate and pro- -vided with atraversing pm at the other side of the first named plate, respectively,

* the mold section having a reinforcement eK-- tending from one endplate to the other on the inactive face of the sustaining plate.

'7. In a mold form, a key section having a material retaining memberwith end plates, each end plate being provided with a movable portionprovided with means for v tions curved on an arc connection to anadjacent mold section, and means for moving the movable portion towardand from the sustaining plate and provided with-a latch for locking themovable member in active relation to the sustaiining plate.

8. In a mold form, an elongated key section provided with connectingmeans for adjacent sections at each end, one of said connecting meansbeing movable toward and from the active face of the key section, andoperating means for the movable portion at eachend of the plate, saidoperating means being connected for simultaneous movement when actuatedfrom either end of the key section.

'9. In a mold form, a key section comprising a plate adapted to receiveand hold material to be molded and at each end provided with end plateseach having a connecting member for the next adjacent mold section amovable member carried by each end plate and rovided with connectingmeans for an ad acent mold section on the corresponding side of the keysection, and operating means for the movable member including latchmeans for holding the movable member positively in the active position.

10. In a mold form, a key section comprising an elongated plateconstituting the material receiving member of the section, end platesfast to the first named plate and each provided with a section enga ingmeans in the plane of the first named p ate, and other section engagingmeans comprising a return flange and a series of perforadescribed aboutthe first named engaging means, a latch plate carried by each end plateand also provided with engaging means for the next adjacent mold sectionon the same side of the key member as said latch plate, a manipulatinglever carried by the first named end plate, and a latch memberconstituting the connection between the lever and the movable plate andcoacting with the first named plate to lock the movable plate thereto.

11. In a mold structure, a key section provided with a movable memberadapted to be connected to an adjacent mold member, a connecting memberbetween said movable member and the key section for causing the movablemember to approach toward and recede from the center ine of the keymember when moved, a manipulating lever carried by the key member, and alatch member on the movable member connected to the manipulatin leverfor causing movement of the mova le member and for locking the latter tothe key member when in active re lation thereto.

12. In a mold form, a key member comprising a mainplate forming thesustainmg portion of t 0 key member, end plates for the key member, amovable plate con nected to and sustained by each end plate, the saidend plates and movable plates having connecting means for adjacent moldsections, a manipulating lever on each end plate, said manipulatinglever being provided with cam shoulders, a latch bar connected at oneend to the manipulating lever and rovided with shoulders coacting withthe s oulders on the manipulating lever and at the other end carrying alatch pin traversing the movable plate and movable with the plate intolatching engagement with the end plate, and a member on the movableplate constraining the latch member to active position.

13. In a mold structure, form sections each having a series of passagestherethrough, latches individual to the passages and each comprising abar pivoted at one end to the corresponding form section adjacent oneend of a respective passage and on the face of the form section remotefrom the active face thereof to move parallel with the face to which itis pivoted, said bar being provided at an intermediate pointwith aprojecting finger movable into traversing relation to the respectivepassage, and a keeper on the form section for eachlatch, said keeperbeing located adjacent the end of the passage remote from that nearwhich the latch is pivoted and in position to en gage the correspondingend of the latch,'the

eeper havin a degree of elasticity to hold the latch in atchingposition.

14. A means for forming concrete walls comprising matching form sectionseach provided with a series of like passages extending through the formsection from the active face to the face remotev therefrom, latches oneach form section and each provided with a projecting finger movableinto traversing relation to a respective passage, and flat wire loopseach formed of a single piece of wire with its ends'joined, the loopsbeingof a length to have both ends extended through oppositely disposedlatching pas:

sages and to be traversed by the fingers of the respective latches, theloops constituting ties restraining the form sections to predeterminedrelatlve spacing.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN J. A. FLOM.

'i'Vitnesses:

Jomr OLLIB, K. E. OMGARDL.

